Popular Articles

Environmental Sustainability: A Definition For Environmental Professionals, John Morelli

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

While acknowledging the need for “sustainability,” this paper summarizes the problems that have been encountered in our understanding and use of this concept. It explores the efforts of others to define the concept within the context of specific disciplinary areas and sets forth a proposal for a basic understanding of the term “environmental sustainability” as an expansion of our common perception of the nature of human activity so as to more clearly connect it with the ecological concept of interdependence and to serve as a goal for environmental managers.

The Importance Of Human Resource Management In Strategic Sustainability: An Art And Science Perspective, Harold Schroeder

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

Strategic sustainability is associated with significant business benefits as well as positive environmental impacts, yet many organizations fail to recognize the potential of this approach, and neglect the factors necessary for its successful implementation. This article recommends an art and science based approach to strategic sustainability and discusses the important role of Human Resource professionals in contributing to the success of this approach. A number of key areas of responsibility for the HR department in relation to strategic sustainability are discussed and the importance of a more proactive approach on the part of HR professionals is noted.

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

The product packaging has a crucial role to attract consumer, force them to choose the product and act as a brand communication vehicle. The point of focus is how the elements of the package design affect consumer’s perceptions about products and brand. In this study, we collected data through a questionnaire that covered areas such as design elements of the package (size, shape, material, graphic design of package, typography, images and pictures), user’s perception (attention, purchase and repurchase) and their experience (feelings evoked and functional benefits). There is a difference with the professional status and age involvement with ...

Urban Design Principles Of The Original Neighborhood Concepts, Nicholas Patricios

Nicholas Patricios

The neighbourhood concept is arguably one of the major planning landmarks that shaped the urban form of the twentieth century city in many countries. Coincidently, both the neighbourhood idea of Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, exemplified in their plan for Radburn, and the Neighbourhood Unit idea of Clarence Perry were published in 1929. The urban design principles of Stein and Wright included the idea of a superblock of residential units grouped around a central green, the separation of vehicles and pedestrians, and a road hierarchy with culs-de-sac for local access roads. A cluster of superblocks was to form a self-contained ...

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The current paradigm in the field of architecture today is one of degeneration and obsolete building technologies. Regenerative architecture is the practice of engaging the natural world as the medium for, and generator of the architecture. It responds to and utilizes the living and natural systems that exist on a site that become the “building blocks” of the architecture. Regenerative architecture has two focuses; it is an architecture that focuses on conservation and performance through a focused reduction on the environmental impacts of a building.

This paper introduces regenerative architecture as a means for architectural design. I present the Nine ...

Impacts Of Daylighting On Preschool Students' Social And Cognitive Skills, Safak Yacan

Interior Design Program: Theses

The focus of this study is the element of daylight in preschools and its social and cognitive effects on preschoolers. The current study is a correlational study that assesses infants’ social and cognitive developments, and daylight in preschool classrooms. Participants were 69 children (30 boys and 39 girls), aged from four to five, who enrolled in two different early childhood facilities in Van in Turkey. It was hypothesized that preschoolers’ social and cognitive skills would be correlated with daylight in preschool classrooms. Results revealed that there was a crucial correlation between preschool students’ social behavior and cognitive skills and daylight ...

Fostering Sustainable Behavior Through Design: A Study Of The Social, Psychological, And Physical Influences Of The Built Environment, Neil Cummings

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

The ultimate goal of this research paper was to gain a more acute perspective into the relationship between the physical environment and human behavior, so that architectural design may begin to promote and affect environmentally friendly behavior in its users. The three main fields of psychology that were the focus of this paper were social psychology, environmental psychology, and cognitive psychology, all of which were essential to understanding the unique relationship one has with their built environment.

The definitive goal of the sustainability movement, or what I at least think it should be, is the creation of an environmentally friendly ...

Pomona Senior Theses

This paper investigates the successes and failures of architectural design techniques used to improve the sustainability of occupants. It looks broadly at research that has taken place in the past and focuses specifically on the strategies used in Pomona and Sontag Halls - two dormitories constructed at Pomona College.

Architecture For Science: Space As An Incubator To Nurture Research, Maryam Mohammad Shafiee

Masters Theses

This thesis will study how scientific research environments should be designed, specifically addressing the issues beyond mere needs of research scientists. Assuming that the purpose of research is to create new knowledge and foster discoveries, as well as positively influence the community in its processes and results, this thesis will explore the potential of the influence of this building typology that has not been previously considered enough. The objectives of the thesis are on one hand, the changes in science disciplines and their reflections in the evolution among this building type, on the other hand, the impacts of research environment ...

From Fail-Safe To Safe-To-Fail: Sustainability And Resilience In The New Urban World, Jack F. Ahern

Abstract: The extent to which the 21st Century world will be "sustainable" depends in large part on the sustainability of cities. Early ideas on implementing sustainability focused on concepts of achieving stability, practicing effective management and the control of change and growth-- a "fail-safe" mentality. More recent thinking about change, disturbance, uncertainty, and adaptability is fundamental to the emerging science of resilience, the capacity of systems to reorganize and recover from change and disturbance without changing to other states-- in other words, systems that are "safe to fail." While the concept of resilience is intellectually intriguing, it remains largely unpracticed ...

Publications and Research

The accumulation of water runoff during rain storms is a major problem in New York City’s combination water systems, forcing water treatment plants to release untreated excess water. To avoid overfilling of the sewer system by this grey water, pocket parks and gardens will be used to absorb the excess rainfall. We will be harnessing nature’s resources with current technologies such as: solar panels combined with rain catching canopies, to beautify the environment, educate the public about sustainability, stimulate growth to local businesses through increased foot traffic and bringing social awareness on environmental issues.

Museum Studies Projects

The purpose of this Master’s Thesis Project is to provide insight to important practices in the museum profession in relation to interpreting and exhibiting intangible heritage, and provide detailed steps on incorporating community involvement and participation in a museum setting, specifically for this paper, Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo (CCI). Through the practices learned in the Museum Studies MA program, exhibits and programs were designed to suit CCI’s goals. This research resulted in the development of a new mission statement, collections policy and oral history interviews were conducted to assist in their collection and provide CCI with a ...

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Downbursts are highly transient natural phenomena which produce strong downdrafts evolving from a cumulonimbus cloud They induce an outburst of damaging winds on or near to the ground causing an immense damage to the ground mounted structures and aircrafts. This study investigates the transient nature of downbursts using wind speed records from full scale downburst events employing an objective methodology. This method can detect the abrupt change points in a downburst time series based on statistical parameters such as mean, standard deviation and linear trend. In addition to the analysis of the full scale downburst events, several large scale experimental ...

An Investigation Of Sustainability Issue For Building Construction In North Cyprus, Hasan Samih Kalwry M.Sc., Halil Zafer Alibaba Associate Professor

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

The action of construction it is perceived to have a significant influence on the environmental assessment. In spite of the confession that environmental issues are significant in the construction field, and is slow to alteration the conventional way to combine environmental issue as part of the decision process. With increased information and awareness about these influence, among these sustainable building construction and material issues. In this article was began with investigate these issues in the North Cyprus, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the scale of awareness, learning and implementation of sustainability in practices between architect’s perception and ...

This work surveyed residents of an economically disadvantaged community on their attitudes toward weatherization and their energy use behaviors. To support urban leaders making decisions to mitigate the effects of large-scale climate change, data-driven simulation models are being developed. To ensure that these models are equitable, the needs of all citizens must be included, especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The results of this survey indicate that residents are taking steps to weatherize and conserve energy, but they are hindered by a lack of resources and knowledge of available assistance programs. These results are being applied ...

UCARE Research Products

Participating in the Landscape Architecture Foundation’s 2018 Case Study Investigation has been an incredibly informative experience for our research team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We are eager to shine a spotlight on the landscape performance of two Great Plains projects: P Street Corridor, a revitalized downtown streetscape in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, a waterfront redevelopment in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Working on the post-occupancy study of both projects has been extremely beneficial in understanding how reclaiming underutilized sites can create high-performing landscapes. Both are public projects in urban settings with primary goals of transforming ...

Planning For Active Transportation In The Western United States: An Alternative Future For Cache Valley, Utah, Stephanie A. Tomlin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mobility in the western U.S. is defined primarily by the private automobile. Since the conclusion of WWII, the private automobile has become readily available to the public, and as a result, has heavily influenced the design of our modern cities in the west. In recent years the connections between high motor vehicle use and rising obesity rates, crumbling road infrastructure, and deteriorating air quality have caused city officials to reexamine the transportation systems of the west. One solution advocates, city officials, and planning professionals have begun examining is active transportation (walking, cycling, and public transit). Research suggests that a ...

My Catalyst, Gabrielle Gambino Lyon

Celebration of Learning

Over the course of my internship and shadow program with Pepper Lawson Construction and Ziegler Cooper Architects, I was able to explore the various career paths involved in the design, construction, and civil engineering fields. My work on the construction site of a high-rise apartment building located in the heart of Houston, TX allowed me first-hand experience working and learning alongside project engineers, contractors, building developers, and the construction team.

This project was the perfect confluence of my main areas of interest: structural, mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering, as well as architecture. My daily work consisted of on-site walk throughs ...

Open Spaces, Open Hearts

SIGNED: The Magazine of The Hong Kong Design Institute

Public space in the city provides exercise and discovery, a chance to commune with nature and neighbours. Landscape architects are addressing human needs in their designs, lifting citizens' spirits with their clever eye for sustainability, smart technology and authenticity

Infratecture: Infrastructure As Architecture, David Aaron Wright

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

In today’s society, we are given a systematic way to understand, think, and ultimately, exist in the world. These systems can be seen in christianity, eighteen- wheeler trucks, veganism, or plane travel. All distinctively different, yet similar in that each one defines the way you project yourself. In the layered nature of infrastructure, there are two stages where this primarily plays out: 1 Logistics - Whats it takes to get the latest, greatest iPhone to the market/the money it will take, the labor, the energy. 2 Culture - The reverberation of getting the latest, greatest iPhone to market. How it ...

Publications and Research

Chinese Garden of Friendship was a gift from China; Sydney’ Chinatown is a Chinese Australian community, and they are adjacent to each other at Darling Harbor of Sydney, Australia. The author made visits there to witness their beauties. Besides, she also explored other connections—friendship; Feng Shui; and cultural diversity within these two famous tour sites.

Community and Regional Planning Program: Student Projects and Theses

The concentration of public housing in high-poverty neighborhoods has many negative impacts; it limits educational opportunities for kids, leads to increased crime, causes poor health outcomes, hinders wealth building, and decreases investments (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2013). Northeast Omaha exhibits many of these issues. North Omaha is not only home to many of the city's minority persons, but also home to one of the most impoverished Black communities in the United States (Cordes, Gonzalez, & Grace, 2011). The Omaha-Council Bluffs area was ranked 14 for the highest African-American poverty rate out of 100 most populous metro ...

Poly Canyon Observation Deck, Sitora Vaxidova, Emir Kuljancic

Architectural Engineering

Poly Canyon Observation Platform is a proposed CM/ARCE interdisciplinary senior project with a goal of providing an observation point/rest stop for hikers and bikers. The platform has a shaded cover and seating area overlooking Poly Canyon for a rewarding experience after a long trek out to the lookout point.

Radical Social Ecology As Deep Pragmatism: A Call To The Abolition Of Systemic Dissonance And The Minimization Of Entropic Chaos, Arielle Brender

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper aims to shed light on the dissonance caused by the superimposition of Dominant Human Systems on Natural Systems. I highlight the synthetic nature of Dominant Human Systems as egoic and linguistic phenomenon manufactured by a mere portion of the human population, which renders them inherently oppressive unto peoples and landscapes whose wisdom were barred from the design process. In pursuing a radical pragmatic approach to mending the simultaneous oppression and destruction of the human being and the earth, I highlight the necessity of minimizing entropic chaos caused by excess energy expenditure, an essential feature of systems that aim ...

In Shadow Of Disaster, Meredith Rene Graves

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

People are drawn to places of safety, familiarity and stability – places they call home. The built environment then becomes a visible measurement of the security of a community: if structures are intact, so are the people housed within them. Yet each year with increasing intensity and frequency, natural disasters are wrecking buildings and communities all over the globe. The unstoppable force of a natural disaster remains undetectable and unpredictable, even with scientific experts employing the most technologically—advanced monitoring systems.

Due to its diverse landscapes and amount of coastal territory, the United States consistently suffers from natural disasters. According to ...

Farming The Bronx: The Potential For Controlled-Environment Agriculture To Address Environmental Degradation And Urban Social Issues, Reyna Wang

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper and design proposal explores the possibilities of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) to address the issue of impending global food insecurity and widespread loss of ecosystem services while providing communities in the Bronx with tools for social empowerment. Chapter 1 presents quantitative data from sources like the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment regarding the widespread environmental impacts of industrial agriculture and shows how these harmful impacts can be limited or reduced through a transition to CEA in urban areas. Chapter 2 describes CEA design methods and technologies that can be combined in different ways to suit a diverse variety of settings and ...